Musicians and Bands

Beverly 'Guitar' Watkins

"Beverly Watkins is a pyrotechnic guitar maven whose searing, ballistic attacks on the guitar have become allegorical tales within the blues community." -Sandra Pointer-Jones

Beverly Watkins started playing music as a schoolchild. Growing up in the country near Commerce, Georgia, before moving to Atlanta, she experienced roots music at its very roots. Once she reached Atlanta, however, she fell under the mentor-ship of her high school band teacher: Clark Terry. Clark had just come off of several years as a member of Duke Ellington's Orchestra, which had been preceded by several more years as a member of Count Basie's band. Needless to say, Beverly learned some foundational skills under his tutelage.

Beverly Watkins came of age in a time when Blues, R&B and Rock 'n Roll had not yet fully diverged. She is able to play a number of styles, but for Brickyard Blues, she will be focusing on her signature Blues repetoire.

Beverly Watkins “sings and plays with enough poise and verve to make musicians half her age or younger consider alternative means of employment.” -George Varga

Beverly has cracked Billboard's Hot 100 repeatedly, been covered **by** the Beatles waaay back in the 60's, had a solo album nominated for a W.C. Handy Award in 2000, and won a European Grammy for another solo album in 2007.

Always a performer, Beverly has been increasingly featured on network TV in recent years.